Find out how popular the last name Earnhart is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Earnhart.

Earnhart, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Earnhart surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Earnhart in America

Earnhart is the 22924th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Earnhart surname appeared 1,116 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Earnhart.

We can also compare 2010 data for Earnhart to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Earnhart

The surname Earnhart has its origins in Germany, dating back to the early 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German words "arn" meaning eagle and "hart" meaning brave or hardy, suggesting that the name may have been associated with someone who possessed the qualities of an eagle, such as strength, courage, and keen vision.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Earnhart can be found in the town records of Heidelberg, Germany, where a certain Johannes Earnhart was listed as a resident in 1524. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of Germany, as well as to neighboring countries such as Switzerland and Austria. The variations in spelling, including Ernhart, Ernhardt, and Ehrenhart, can be found in various historical documents from this period.

One notable bearer of the name was Friedrich Earnhart, a German scholar and philosopher who lived from 1652 to 1718. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of metaphysics and his work on the nature of reality and existence.

As the name continued to spread across Europe, it eventually made its way to other parts of the world through immigration. In the late 18th century, a family by the name of Earnhart settled in the American colonies, establishing themselves in the region that would eventually become Pennsylvania.

Another prominent figure with the surname Earnhart was Wilhelm Earnhart, a German-American artist and painter who lived from 1825 to 1892. His works, which often depicted landscapes and rural scenes, were highly acclaimed and can be found in various museums and galleries across the United States.

In the 19th century, the name Earnhart also appeared in parts of England, where it is believed to have been introduced by German immigrants. One such individual was Robert Earnhart, a businessman and entrepreneur who lived from 1842 to 1911 and was known for his successful ventures in the textile industry.

As the centuries passed, the surname Earnhart continued to spread and evolve, with variations and adaptations emerging in different regions and cultures. However, its roots can be traced back to the German origins and the meaning associated with the qualities of an eagle, representing strength, courage, and a keen perception of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Earnhart

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Earnhart.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Earnhart was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Earnhart has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Earnhart was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Earnhart, please contact us.

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